Washington Newsletter

October 2009

The New Fiscal Year

"No money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law…"

-- Article 1, Section 9, U.S. Constitution       

October 1st marks the beginning of the new fiscal year for the federal government. It happens every year on the same date without exception and in theory, Congress is supposed to have its appropriations work completed by then. Congress seldom meets this deadline and gives itself an extension of time by passing what is called a Continuing Resolution (CR) that authorizes continued federal spending for a specific period of time. This year the CR extends spending authority until October 31st, a day that is better known as Halloween.

While nothing is signed, sealed and delivered, it appears that federal land agencies will receive additional funding for land management activities, including federal recreation. Once the final spending measures are the law of the land, we will report to you the results.

New Director of National Park Service

Career National Park Service employee Jon Jarvis is now the head of the agency. Jarvis was confirmed by the Senate on September 24th. With the Park Service celebrating the 100th Anniversary of its founding and with renewed attention on the maintenance needs of our National Parks, we expect that Jarvis will be a fierce proponent for his agency. In the past, he has clashed with politicians over funding/use issues affecting National Parks and one shouldn't assume he will be any less aggressive now that he is at the top of this federal agency.

Ken Burns' 12-hour documentary on the National Parks will likely bring more public attention and appreciation for what the federal park system has to offer. I watched one segment of Burns' latest work and while interesting, the thought of watching all 12 hours was a bit daunting - I'd rather spend the time outside in a park. Even so, this new publicity will allow Director Jarvis and his team to focus greater attention on the financial and physical needs of the park system and to lobby the Congress to provide more federal assistance.

Red Rock Wilderness Bill - The East Knows Best for the West

Generally speaking, when wilderness legislation is introduced in the Congress, the effort usually is led by a local Member of Congress. The Member or Senator works closely with various interests in the congressional district or state he or she represents to determine what areas of land should forever be designated as "wilderness." In other words, those living closest to the land where the designation is to take place are in the best position to know how that land should be used.

Since most wilderness areas of federal land are in the western part of the U. S., usually western Senators or Members of Congress are the ones most involved in the formation of the legislation. In recent years that demarcation has changed. We saw this when Representative Carolyn Maloney, representing Manhattan, New York, introduced the Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act encompassing more than 23 million acres in five western states. It seemed rather absurd that someone who has Central Park and Times Square in her district would also know something about 23 million acres more than 2500 miles away from her congressional district.

The latest in the "East knows best for the West" category is the 9 million acre Utah wilderness bill, H.R. 1925, sponsored by another New York Congressman, Rep. Maurice Hinchey. Hinchey represents a congressional district north of New York City, comprised of rural areas along with old industrial cities. The land mass covered by H. R. 1925 is more than 4 and ½ times the size of Hinchey's congressional district. The House Natural Resources Committee's Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands recently held a hearing on Hinchey's bill. The entire Utah congressional delegation testified against the measure. Even the Bureau of Land Management, the federal agency with the responsibility of managing most of the land included in the bill, expressed reservations about the legislation.

No doubt there are areas within the 9 million acres that merit wilderness designation. I would feel more comfortable about such a designation if Utah's congressional delegation was making that determination rather than relying on someone in Congress who represents apple orchards and industrial cities struggling to attract people and jobs. But then, that would be a violation of the "East knows best for the West" rule.

New Vision for America's Forests

A new President, a new Secretary of Agriculture, and a new Chief of the Forest Service and what do you get? A new vision for America's forests. Well, that's what Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack recently announced in a major speech in the Pacific Northwest. Vilsack believes that a comprehensive policy for America's public and private forests is needed to address climate change issues, roadless areas, conservation and management of these areas.

The Secretary cited the declining health of our forests and the fact that vast areas are susceptible to disease, forest fires, and poor watershed quality, as just a few of the problems. Secretary Vilsack called for a collaborative process, involving all types of stakeholders, to fashion a forest policy that would provide a combination of economic opportunity along with improved management techniques.

Back in the 1970's, I first became aware of serious policy differences over forest management when the spotted owl issue arose along with growing public opposition to clear cutting practices. In short order, timber harvesting in many of our national forests came to a halt causing countless mill communities to die one by one. Once thriving local economies based upon the forest products industry soon became economically depressed communities. Meanwhile, the lack of timber harvesting and forest thinning operations meant that dangerous levels of combustible undergrowth continued to build year after year until the spotted owl no longer had to worry about its habitat being disturbed by loggers, but rather destroyed by fierce forest fires.

Secretary Visack is right, comprehensive policy for the use of our national forests is desperately needed. As the Forest Service begins this review, we are going to be reminding Forest Service staff that OHV recreation can play an important and critical role in expanding the use of our national forests by contributing to the economic vitality of adjacent communities. As this process begins, we will have more to say about it in future newsletters.

Sincerely,

Larry E. Smith
Executive Director
Americans for Responsible Recreational Access